‘Pak Army encouraging Cameron protests against Zardari’

Islamabad, Aug 2(ANI): A friend of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has accused the Army of encouraging street protests over his decision to go ahead with his official trip to the United Kingdom despite British Prime Minster David Cameron’s hostile remarks.

According to the friend, cancellation of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha’s trip to UK was also part of a campaign to sabotage Zardari’s image ahead of the trip.

Pasha was earlier scheduled to accompany Zardari to hold meetings with his intelligence counterparts.”The ISI cancellation is a signal of their displeasure and that they do not want him [Zardari] to go,” The Telegraph quoted the source, as saying.

“The army sends these signals and then the demonstrators are on the streets,” he added.

Cameron, during his last week’s visit to India had accused elements within Pakistan of “looking both ways” on terrorism.

According to report, the Prime Minister will not apologize when Zardari arrives in London on Tuesday to begin his five-day official trip.

Cameron’s aides said that he did not regret his comments, despite them creating fury in Islamabad.

He, however, will absolve the Pakistan government of any blame for promoting extremism and violence, as he is determined to build on a history of good relations between the two countries.

Zardari, on the other hand, has defied domestic pressure to cancel the trip in which he will discuss issues ranging from export tariffs to terrorism.

He is expected to make clear his displeasure over his host’s remarks, and convey the sentiments of the Pakistanis in a forthright manner.

The Pakistan President will meet Cameron at his country residence in Chequers, on the outskirts of London, on August 6. (ANI)